70 PER CENT EV SALES IN EUROPE BY 2030 IS THE TARGET
centre console. This, claims Skoda, is the safest place for the most precious member of the family but it’s unlikely to make it to production, replaced by a more conventional 7-seater layout. What will definitely not make production are the suicide-opening doors and omission of the B-pillar.
The Vision 7S will be the largest vehicle to use VW Group’s MEB platform, the longer wheelbase facilitating a larger battery capacity of 89kWh and a claimed WLTP range of over 600km. This is also expected to be the last new model on the MEB as the VW Group transitions to a new EV toolkit called SSP, from 2025.
Skoda have set themselves an ambitious target of 70 per cent EV sales in Europe by 2030 which kicks off with three new all-electric models by 2026. Apart from this 7-seater SUV the line-up will have a small car as well as a compact SUV. “We’ll be investing a total of €5.6 billion (`44,400 crore) in e-mobility and a further €700 million (`5,500 crore) in digitalisation over the next five years, thus securing the future viability of the company and jobs,” says Zellmer.
And India is definitely on the electric radar. The global CEO confirms that the way forward will be a balance between ICE and EVs. “In the immediate future our portfolio will be ICE oriented but we have already brought in some Skoda Enyaqs to India, which are being tested across the country.” Expect the Enyaq iV to be launched in the first half of next year as a CBU with Zellmer confirming parts and components assembly to follow. Local production is in the pipeline but it depends on, “How quickly the market matures and the ecosystem develops, especially the charging infrastructure.”
The ground work has already begun with the landmark agreement with Mahindra Auto for supplying components of the VW Group MEB full-electric platform. “Localising core MEB components in India are pivotal for scale.
All possibilities and associations are being looked at,” adds Zellmer.
For now though the India focus is on consolidating the India 2.0 project. “It is really about capacity, available resources, and the transformation that the society, the market and our Group are going through. All these factors will be the basis for deciding the way forward.” ⌧